Syria critical of UN for not censuring Israel
State-owned paper says IAEA decision not to censure Israel over its refusal to allow nuclear inspection shows 'talking about Israel's nuclear affairs ... is a red line'
A state-owned Syrian newspaper is criticizing a meeting of the UN nuclear agency for failing to censure Israel over its refusal to allow inspections of its nuclear program.
A 151-nation meeting in Vienna narrowly defeated the push by Arab nations, including Syria. The US and other Israeli allies had argued the resolution would have threatened Mideast peace talks and the chances of staging a high-level Mideast nuclear meeting.
The Tishrin government newspaper said Saturday that the outcome was regretful and showed that "talking about Israel's nuclear affairs ... is a red line."
Syria itself is under investigation by the International Atomic Energy Agency on the suspicion it has a secret nuclear program. Syria denies that.
Member states of the United Nation nuclear watchdog narrowly rejected an Arab-sponsored resolution on Friday calling on Israel to join a global anti-atomic weapons treaty in a diplomatic victory for the United States.
Forty-six delegations voted in favor of the resolution, 51 against and 23 others abstained in the general assembly of the 151-member International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa commented on the decision Friday and warned that "if Israel maintains its nuclear (facilities) the Middle East is heading towards an arms race."
He further added, "It is inconceivable that only one country (in the region) will have nuclear weapons. Why should Israel be the only one? The Middle East should be free of all weapons of mass destruction."
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